Villas-Boas hails Bale's 'brilliance'

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has praised Gareth Bale's match-winning power after the Welshman struck to sink Southampton on Saturday.

Bale struck in the 86th minute to seal a hard-fought 1-0 win at White Hart Lane, to keep SPurs in the hunt for UEFA Champions League qualification.

The attacker became the first Spurs player to score 20 goals in a season since Jurgen Klinsmann, who achieved the feat in 1995, and Villas-Boas was quick to hail the Welshman's impact.

He said: "It was a great moment of individual brilliance, at the moment he is in outstanding form and scoring goals from nowhere.

"I think (the goal) was only moment where Southampton left him and it made the difference."

Villas-Boas' men remain fifth on goal difference, and face tough away trips to Chelsea and Stoke in the next seven days. The Portuguese is confident his side can qualify for Europe's top competition, but believes his side must maintain their current momentum in order to do so.

"We're in a great position but extremely difficult, we have a great week ahead of us with two away games that are decisive to keep us in the frame, everything is in our hands and we hope to make that final push," he said.

"The game against Chelsea will be a massive game for us, obviously it depends on whatever Arsenal and Chelsea do with their remaining fixtures, but at the moment we are still in with a shout."

Midfielder Scott Parker missed the game due to an ankle problem, with the Tottenham boss stating that they did not want to risk the former Chelsea man ahead of the clash with his former club.

He explained: "He twisted his ankle a little bit in training, we had a late fitness test with him but he felt a little bit of pain so we decided not to risk and it leaves us in the frame to use him on Wednesday."